Arise, Sir James Anderson! Iconic England bowler receives knighthood for services to cricket
James Anderson, who claimed a whopping 704 wickets in 188 Tests and retired as the most successful pace bowler in Test history, was knighted by Princess Royal during a ceremony at Windsor Castle.
New Delhi: James Anderson, one of the greatest bowlers to grace the game, recieved a knighthood for his exceptional services to cricket on Tuesday. The legendary England fast bowler was bestowed the honour after a hugely succesful career that has spanned more than two decades.
The latest achievement marks a historic milestone in a glittering career. The 43-year-old pacer, who is England's all-time leading wicket-taker, received the prestigious honour from the Princess Royal during a ceremony at Windsor Castle.
Anderson was the only sportsperson to be named in former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours list earlier this year. He becomes only the fifth cricketer after Sir Ian Botham, Sir Geoffrey Boycott, Sir Alastair Cook and Sir Andrew Strauss to be knighted.
Anderson rewarded for an outstanding career
Anderson stood out for his longevity and perseverance during his 22-year international career. The right-arm fast bowler became renowned for his precision, swing, adaptability and consistency.
Anderson claimed a whopping 704 wickets in 188 Tests and retired as the most successful pace bowler in Test history. In the overall wicket-takers list, Anderson is only behind Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan and Australia’s Shane Warne.
Anderson has inspired a generation of cricketers with consistency, longevity and discipline. He has been a key factor in England's red-ball and white-ball success across generations.
Anderson's cricketing journey continues with Lancashire
After a long and successful career, he bid farewell to Test cricket in July 2024 after an emotional outing at Lord's. Such was his impact in the cricketing world that he not only earned praise and respect from his teammates but also from his adversaries.
While he has hung up his international boots, Anderson's cricketing journey is far from over. He is currently representing his boyhood club, Lancashire, in County cricket and remains in talks over a one-year extension. If the deal is agreed upon, fans could see him play into the 2026 season, beyond his 44th birthday.
The knighthood is a fitting tribute for Anderson, who will now be known as Sir James Anderson.